美联社新闻一分钟 2006-04-30

1. The clean-up begins after winds up to one hundred miles an hour and baseball-sized hail caused extensive damage in parts of North Texas. Officials say hundreds of homes and businesses sustained damage. There are no reports of serious injuries from last night’s storms.

2. An Iranian nuclear official says Tehran is going to continue its uranium enrichment program, but he says it’s ready for a conditional¹ return to inspections² if certain conditions are met. The U.S. and other Western allies suspect Iran is trying to produce nuclear warheads.

3. Mario Williams is signed, sealed and delivered to the Houston Texans. The North Carolina State defensive³ end was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. He signed a 6-year, 54-million-dollar contract.

4. Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards is recovering after reportedly falling out of a palm tree while vacationing in Fiji. The 62-year-old rocker was flown to a hospital in New Zealand where he is being treated for a mild concussion⁴

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. clean-up : n-count
A clean-up is the removing of dirt, pollution, crime, or corruption⁵ from somewhere.
e.g. The Governor has now called in the National Guard to assist the clean-up operation.

2. hail : n-count
Hail consists of small balls of ice that fall like rain from the sky.
e.g. a sharp short-lived storm with heavy hail.

3. sign : verb
If an organization signs someone or if someone signs for an organization, they sign a contract agreeing to work for that organization for a specified⁶ period of time.
e.g. The Minnesota Vikings signed Herschel Walker from the Dallas Cowboys...

4. seal :
⑴ n-count
A seal is a special mark or design, for example on a document, representing someone or something. It may be used to show that something is genuine or officially approved.
e.g. a supply of note paper bearing the Presidential seal.
⑵ verb
Attach authenticating⁷ seal to something: to affix⁸ a marked piece of wax to something in order to authenticate⁹ or certify¹⁰ it.

5. defensive end : noun
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football. A defensive player who lines up at the end of the defensive line ------防守边锋
e.g. The job of the defensive end is to contain the running back on running plays to the outside, and rush the quarterback on passing plays.

6. NFL : noun
Also known as National Football League, which is the largest and most recognizable professional football league in the world ------美国职业橄榄球联盟
e.g. The National Football League consists of 32 teams divided into eight four-team divisions.

7. draft : noun
The selecting of collegiate players for entrance into the National Football League. Also known as: NFL Draft ------美国职业橄榄球联盟球员选秀大会
e.g. The team with the worst record in the NFL over the previous season is allowed to select the first player in the draft.

8. concussion : noun
If you suffer concussion after a blow to your head, you lose consciousness or feel sick or confused.
e.g. She fell off a horse and suffered a concussion.

1 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。

2 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

4 concussion   

n.脑震荡；震动

参考例句：

• He was carried off the field with slight concussion.他因轻微脑震荡给抬离了现场。
• She suffers from brain concussion.她得了脑震荡。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 specified   

adj.特定的

参考例句：

• The architect specified oak for the wood trim. 那位建筑师指定用橡木做木饰条。
• It is generated by some specified means. 这是由某些未加说明的方法产生的。

7 authenticating   

v.证明是真实的、可靠的或有效的( authenticate的现在分词 )；鉴定，使生效

参考例句：

• Specifies the password used for authenticating to a remote server. 指定用于对远程服务器身份验证的密码。 来自互联网
• Property indicating which hash algorithm to use when authenticating the message. 表示验证消息时要使用的散列算法的属性。 来自互联网

8 affix   

n.附件，附录 vt.附贴，盖(章)，签署

参考例句：

• Please affix your signature to the document. 请你在这个文件上签字。
• Complete the form and affix four tokens to its back. 填完该表，在背面贴上4张凭券。

9 authenticate   

vt.证明…为真，鉴定

参考例句：

• We would have to authenticate your relationship with the boy.我们必须证实一下您和那个孩子的关系。
• An expert was needed to authenticate the original Van Gogh painting from his imitation.这幅画是凡·高的真迹还是赝品,需由专家来鉴定。

10 certify   

vt.证明，证实；发证书(或执照)给

参考例句：

• I can certify to his good character.我可以证明他品德好。
• This swimming certificate is to certify that I can swim one hundred meters.这张游泳证是用以证明我可以游100米远。